Our Maths Approach

Spiral Curriculum Approach

The spiral approach to curriculum design is based on the educational theory that students learn best when they revisit key concepts at increasing levels of complexity over time. It’s often associated with Jerome Bruner, a cognitive psychologist who argued that:

“Any subject can be taught effectively in some intellectually honest form to any child at any stage of development.”

Key Principles of the Spiral Approach

1. Revisiting Topics Regularly
   Concepts are not taught just once, but reintroduced throughout the curriculum. Each revisit allows students to build on prior understanding, reinforcing memory and understanding.
2. Progressive Depth
   While the same topics are repeated, the complexity increases each time. For example, fractions may start with simple halves and quarters in Year 1 and evolve to converting improper fractions in Year 5.
3. Cumulative Learning
   Each layer builds on the last. Knowledge is not fragmented but connected, helping students make links between topics and apply their learning more flexibly.
4. Scaffolding and Mastery
   Concepts are introduced in a simplified form and developed over time. This supports mastery through incremental steps and continuous reinforcement.

Advantages of the Spiral Curriculum